What is IPA?

IPA stands for "iOS App Store Package"
An .ipa file is an iPhone application archive file which stores an iPhone app. It is usually encrypted with Apple's FairPlay DRM technology. Each .ipa file is compressed with a binary for the ARM architecture and can only be installed on an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad - See more at: http://huntmyideas.weebly.com/blog/top-ios-interview-questions-and-answers-for-beginners#sthash.Ge6hIys4.dpuf

You must have heard about .ipa files while developing iOS Applications or if you are into jail breaking your iPhone/iPad or iPod Touch,you probably also been looking for the illegal .ipa files.In this post,I have explained about it's use and what it stands for.ipa stands for  iOS App Store Package.

An .ipa file is an iPhone application archive file which stores an iPhone app.

It is usually encrypted with Apple's FairPlay DRM technology. Each .ipa file is compressed with a binary for the ARM architecture and can only be installed on an iPhone, iPod Touch,or iPad.Files with the .ipa extension can be uncompressed by changing the extension to .zip and unzipping. .ipa files cannot be installed on the iPhone Simulator because they do not contain a binary for the x86 architecture.


If you change the extension to .zip you will be able to unzip it and view the contents.You can follow these steps to unzip an .ipa file content.

Step1

•  Download an .ipa file to your desktop.

Step2

•  Rename the .ipa file to .zip.

Step3

• Extract the .zip file and open the payload folder by double clicking on it.

Step4

• Right click on the package folder and click on "Show package contents"

Now,You can view the contents of an Application like image files,plist files and some  encrypted nib files etc.